Sealing means for swinging doors and windows



March 13, 1962 w. w. MILLER SEALING MEANS FOR SWINGING DOORS AND WINDOWS Filed Oct. 2, 1959 INVENTOR.

WALLACE W. MILLER BY mwx&mw$

Unite States Patent 3,024,504 SEALING MEANS FOR SWINGING DOORS AND WINDOWS Wallace W. Miller, 205 N. 3rd St., El Cajon, Calif. Filed Oct. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 844,003 2 Claims. (Cl. 20-69) The present invention relates generally to weather proofing and draft excluding and more particularly to a sealing means for swinging doors and windows.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a sealing means for attachment to the lower edge of a door or window and having resilient wall portions which seal against the sill or frame along two parallel lines of contact for maximum sealing effect.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sealing means which is effective in either direction of swing and is also reversible if necessary, to distribute wear caused by constant use in one direction.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sealing means which is extremely small and requires a minimum of space for its installation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a sealing means which is light yet positive in action and seals properly without causing tightness or jamming of the window ordoor.

Finally, it is an object to provide a sealing means of the aforementioned character which is simple and convenient to make and use and which will give generally efficient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawing which forms a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the lower corner of a door with the sealing means attached;

FIGURE 2 is a greatly enlarged transverse cross section of the sealing means;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 and showing the sealing means in the initial contact position; and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 3, but showing the sealing means in the fully sealed posi tion.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the views of the drawing.

The sealing means comprises an elongated member illustrated in cross section in FIGURE 2 and having a generally T-shaped retaining portion with a stem 12 and flanges 14 extending on opposite sides thereof at one end. Extending from the other end of the stem 12 are opposed shoulder portions 16 and 17 which are outwardly and downwardly rolled away from said stem, and integral with the shoulder portions are generally flat walls 18 and 19 extending in spaced relation. The Walls 18 and 19 diverge slightly toward the retaining portion 10 and have opposed, inwardly rolled terminal edges 20 and 21, which are parallel and closely adjacent to each other. The shoulder portions 16 and 17 and walls 18 and 19 and inwardly rolled edges 20 and 21 are substantially flexible and resilient. The member is preferably extruded from plastic material having suitable resiliency and wearing qualities and can be cut to any desired length as needed. While several methods may be used to secure the sealing member to a door or window, one particularly suitable arrangement is illustrated in FIGURE 1. The door likely to raise both the edge 21 and the wall 18.

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22 is fitted with a channel member 24 which is secured along the edge of the door, said channel member having a pair of downwardly extending ribs 26 on the lower face thereof, said ribs having inwardly projecting, opposed tongues 28 and defining a longitudinal, T-shaped channel 30. The channel 30 is dimensioned to receive the retaining portion 10 of the sealing member, which is inserted from one end and slid longitudinally into place, friction being sufficient to hold the member against inadvertent displacement. The channel member 24 is shown and described in my application for a weather proofing edge member for doors and windows, filed on or about even date herewith, but it should be understood that other holding means may be used to secure the sealing member in place.

In closing a door with the sealing member attached, the walls 18 and '19 are subjected to a wiping action sideways against the sill 32, as illustrated in FIGURE 3. In this particular figure, the sill 32 is indicated as having a sloping face 34 against which the sealing member makes initial contact, the sloping face being used to illustrate the operation more clearly, although the action is virtually the same against an abrupt or vertical edge. At the initial contact, the lower portion of the wall 18 strikes the sill 32 and causes the wall to be bent inwardly. Continued motion of the swinging member causes the lower portion of the other wall 19 to drag along the sill and pull the inwardly rolled edge 21 outwardly. When the door 22 is closed, with minimum clearance between the door and the sill 32, the wall 18 is pressed substantially flat against the sill. At the same time, the wall 19 is extended angularly outwardly with the inwardly rolled edge 21 turned downwardly and resting on the sill 32, as in FIGURE 4.

Thus in the closed position, the sealing member makes two longitudinally extending contacts with the sill 32, one the edge of a wall element and the other the face of a wall. The leading wall functions as a wiper of large contact area to remove any loose dust or the like from the surface of the sill 30 or analogous member, so ensuring more perfect sealing by the trailing wall with its relatively small contact area, in any particular installation. The double contact is far more effective than a single contact sealing strip distorted by pressure, since the presence of dirt or foreign matter on the sill, which may cause a leak under the sealing member, is most un- Further, due to the doubly effective sealed contact, the sealing member may be small and light, requiring very little pressure to maintain a proper seal without causing binding or jamming of the door. Since the sealing member is symmetrical, the sealing action is similar in either direction, one wall face and one rolled edge making the double contact. Thus the sealing member is adaptable to free swinging doors opening and closing from either direction.

It is important to note that the fiat wall portions 18 and 19 have a certain inherent stiffness in the planes of the fiat surfaces and so resist direct upward compression. But the walls have very little resistance to bending, which ensures that proper scaling is accomplished by a side sweeping motion, rather than mere inward collapse of both walls. The structure may be applied to the top, bottom, or side edges of a door or window, according to the extent of sealing needed.

The operation of this invention will be clearly comprehended from a consideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical details thereof, taken in connection with the drawing and the above recited objects. It will be obvious that all said objects are amply achieved by this invention.

It is understood that minor variation from the form of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification and drawing are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim:

1. Sealing means for swinging doors and windows having complementary sills, comprising: an elongated striplike member having a flanged retaining portion, generally T-shaped in cross section, for attachment to the bottom edge of a swinging structure; said retaining portion having a longitudinal stem extending a substantial distance from one side thereof; a pair of thin resilient flexible shoulder portions coterminous with said stem and extending on opposite sides thereof, one of said shoulders being capable of bending inward while the other of said shoulders is capable of bending outward; substantially flat, thin resilient walls coterminous with said shoulder portions and extending therefrom in spaced relation, each of said walls adapted for a wiping action across said sill; said walls diverging slightly in the direction of said stem and having opposed, thin, resilient, inwardly rolled edges.

2. Apparatus for sealing swinging doors, swinging windows and the like that have complementary sills, comprising:

an elongated strip-like member, the upper portion of said member being generally T shaped;

means, comprising the upper bar of said T, for fastening said member to the bottom edge of said swinging element;

a pair of oppositely directed shoulders attached to the bottom of said T, said shoulders being coterminous with the bottom of the stem of said T;

primary means for wiping said sill, and sealing the space between said sill and the bottom of said swinging element, said means comprising the outer surface of a substantially flat, thin, resilient wall that is coterminous with one said shoulder, whereby the swinging movement of said swinging element causes said wall and shoulder to fiex inwardly so that the outer surface of said wall wipes across said sill and seals said space; and

secondary means for wiping said sill and sealing the space between said sill and the bottom of said swinging element, said secondary means comprising the inturned edge of a second substantially fiat, thin, resilient wall that is coterminous with the other of said shoulders, whereby the swinging movement of said swinging element causes said second wall to flex outwardly so the internal edge of said second wall wipes across said sill and further seals said space.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 463,886 Blackwood et al Nov. 24, 1891 938,193 Winslow Oct. 26, 1909 1,590,714 Axe June 29, 1926 1,832,225 Levan Nov. 17, 1931 

